BAGUIO CITY – The National Economic and Development Authority, Office of Civil Defense, and Department of Trade and Industry have detailed in various meetings on May 31, 2019, the efforts on the rehabilitation and recovery of the municipality of Itogon and the Cordillera region as a whole following super typhoons Ompong and Rosita.
As the vice chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) in charge of Rehabilitation and Recovery, NEDA-CAR led the preparation of the Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (RRP) for the Cordillera region after super typhoons of September and October last year. Gregorio Ariz, Chief Planning and Policy Formulation of NEDA-CAR presented the status of the plan during the 2nd Quarter RDRRMC meeting on May 31, 2019.
He said that the rehab and recovery plan cost 14.9 billion pesos which is composed of priority projects and programs set and determined by affected LGUs and concerned regional line agencies and consolidated by NEDA-CAR. Ariz added also that the repair and rehabilitation of roads and bridges are the top priority accounting 7.4 billion pesos or almost half of the total requested fund. Around a fourth of the requested fund or 3.6 billion pesos is allotted to repair and rehabilitate flood control facilities. The agriculture sector was allotted over a billion pesos for agriculture supplies and infrastructure support.
NEDA-CAR added that the Cordillera region’s rehab plan of nearly 15 billion pesos accounts for 80 percent of all National DRRM funding requirements in the northern Luzon area. NEDA-CAR urged the council members and the concerned LGUs to forward their proposals with a detailed scope of works and other requirements for review and assessment by OCD as these are necessary for its allocation in the NDRRMC fund.
DTI-CAR presented their recovery efforts for the municipality of Itogon during a separate Regional Development Council Economic Development Committee meeting on the same day. DTI-CAR, as chair of the Economic Development Sectoral Committee, shared that the Negosyo Center established in Itogon has served 495 clients. DTI-CAR and other civil society organizations like the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry plan to continue the training and development of entrepreneurs handing Micro, Small, and Medium enterprises in Itogon as part of the rehab and recovery efforts.
Typhoons Ompong and Rosita left over 12.4 billion pesos in damages in the Cordillera region alone according to the post-disaster needs assessment of the RDRRMC affecting 85% of all barangays in the region. The total financial requirements were estimated to be around 17.9 billion pesos. Agriculture is the worst-hit sector with over 5 billion pesos in damages and losses. The rehab and recovery plan for the region aims to address these damages.
By Marlo Lubguban
